The Raven

The Raven sits, perched on the window.
The Raven taps, taps, tapping
The Raven taps, thrice in a row.
Once the worm, the toad, and spider-oh.
Open not the door, and answer not
For the Raven cries for victims sought.

The Poem of the Raven was penned in Ravens-Town, written in the present day. Lucian the bard, the man who penned it, would use it as an introduction before playing his music to audiences. The bard warns both against the workings of evil, and making too much change. In his latter years, he claimed he gained the inspiration for these songs while wandering the dark woods, where he found strange artifacts and stranger visions of the living raven headed statue.

Summary

Once there was a raven, perched atop the branches. The raven made a nest, and watched over the lands and sky. One morning he saw a fat worm crawl out of the ground and eat food that belonged to others. So the raven swooped down and gobbled up the worm. That night there came a spider, who caught a fly, then a mouse, then a sparrow in its web. The raven saw, and so swooped down and gobbled up the greedy spider. On the third night the raven was woken by toads, who chirped and croaked and disturbed the midnight air. So the raven flew to and fro, gobbling up every toad, and every frog.
There has been no more noise, yet the raven no longer sleeps. The raven simply waits, tapping at the glass, waiting for the next victim,

Historical Basis

Ancient humanoids once lived on the island. They were many, and lead peaceful if not simple lives. Before the Eclipse, the moons waxed and waned, causing disturbances to the seas, and the waters under the earth. It is believed that many animals left their natural homes during this time. The legend has it that a young sea wyrm migrated too close to the island and interfered with the ecosystem, causing the main source of food to become scarce. In response the islanders built ships of war, and traps to catch the beast. They slew the great beast, but at an unbearable cost. There is no substantial evidence of a sea dragon being hunted.
Prior to the Eclipse, the Drow too were whipped into an unnatural frenzy, the sacrifices to their dark gods doubled, then tripled. So the Drow built ships to aid in their raids on the surface world. The islanders were caught unaware, and were soon overpowered. Hundreds were taken as slaves indiscriminate of age. Animals were killed without reason, and the crops burned. The survivors fled to ancient Ravens-Town, in desperation conducted rituals that would change them. These men became monsters, creatures destined to the abyss. They turned back the advance of the Drow, but lost themselves in the process. There is little proof of this, its secrets carefully hidden in the dark forests.
It was then that these great heroes fell into a deep slumber. Many years had passed before other life returned the island, for the goblin folk sailed across the small isles in search for new resources. The goblins, riotous and degenerate creatures abused the ancient land, destroying monuments of the old and stole ancient weapons. However they made a grave mistake, when they desecrated the site of the ritual. The newly awakened ancients descended upon the tribes, and slew countless goblins, appearing in the dark and leaving chaos in their wake. Once again, there is little proof of this, other than the goblins reactions to the unnatural statues of the Raven headed deity.

Spread

The poem has spread through Fetidland, and has been heard in Hellagrath. The common knowledge of what the poem means is lost to most, save a few who have been enlightened.

Variations & Mutation

Growler: A Hobgoblin Paladin of Devotion. Once a leader of goblins, he was spared by the Raven and has turned to righting the wrongs of his former life. His version of The Raven is far shorter, and holds more emphasis on the terror of the Raven itself, rather than historical references.
Beth "HornRaven": A human bard from Hellagrath. Inspired by the poem, she has incorporated it, though she has changed the ending to fit the lifestyle and flaws of the town that she is performing in.

Date of Setting

Pre eclipse, during the eclipse, and the modern.

Related Locations

• Ravens-Town